Response 'Extremely Strong' to Cash Offer In GM Pickup Truck Settlement

                 One million respond; 83 percent accept cash

                  But 373,000 Are Missing from GM's Mailing

    HOUSTON, May 17 The response to the cash-for-coupon offer
by class attorneys in the General Motors pickup truck class action settlement
is exceeding expectations, signaling strong consumer support for the cash-
offer concept, say officials involved with the program.

    Of the more than one million letters received so far, 83 percent are
opting for the cash alternative offer.

    "We're extremely pleased with the response of truck owners, particularly
in light of GM's efforts to discredit the program and dampen the secondary
market," said James R. Dawley, chairman and CEO of Houston-based Certificate
Redemption Group (CRG).  Dawley's company is responsible for creating the
secondary market for the cash offer to class members of the GM settlement.

    "However, we estimate that 373,000 qualified class members haven't
received their letter and application for certificate from GM and thousands of
people are calling us to complain about GM being unavailable to help.  In
fact, they can't even find a way to contact GM since GM closed down its toll-
free helpline weeks ago.  That letter is key to making the program work and we
don't want any class member to be denied the opportunity to participate if
they qualify," said Dawley.

    As a result, class members who fall into this group will be given until
May 20 to register with CRG, but then have until July 20 to send in their
application for certificate, which they will still need to get from GM.
Consumers can register by phoning CRG's national hotline, accessing its Web
site, or mailing in their cash alternative form by May 20, 2001.  After that,
the cash offer drops to $75.  CRG's national hotline is 1-800-317-4997; the
Web address is http://www.CertificateRebates.com .

    On April 18, both General Motors and class counsel sent separate letters
to 5.8 million owners of GM pickup trucks equipped with sidesaddle fuel tanks.
GM's letter included an "application for certificate" worth $1,000 to the
class member toward the purchase of a new GM vehicle, or $250-$500 when
transferred to a third party.  Class counsel's letter included an offer from
CRG to buy the coupon for $100 cash if the truck owner had no use for it.

    "Since the mailing went out 30 days ago, class members have returned
nearly 1.2 million completed forms.  Of those processed so far, 83 percent
have opted for the $100 cash offer," said Dawley.  "At that rate, we believe
more than one million class members will ultimately accept our cash offer and
that will allow us to return up to $100 million to class members.  If that
happens, we will have achieved our primary goal of getting cash into the hands
of more class members than any other comparable class action settlement.  Of
course, this only happens if GM doesn't succeed in their efforts to take these
benefits away from class members."

    GM continues to challenge the settlement in court, while two Washington,
DC-based public interest groups -- Public Citizen and Center for Auto Safety
-- support CRG's cash alternative offer as a way of getting cash into the
hands of class members who typically get nothing in class action lawsuits.

    According to Don Barrett, lead class counsel, public opinion is clearly
against General Motors.  "The thousands of class members we've talked to think
GM has been acting like Goliath trying to beat down David.  And despite GM's
efforts to thwart the program and confuse class members, we're still here
representing the class members to get them what they deserve, and we will
ultimately succeed."

    The lawsuit was launched in 1992 because GM full-size pickup trucks with
sidesaddle fuel tanks were allegedly more prone to fiery explosions in side-
impact collisions.  The sidesaddle design was used on trucks made from 1973-
1991 and located the fuel tanks outside the truck's frame rails, making them
more susceptible to damage.  After nine years of legal haggling, General
Motors finally agreed to comply with the settlement but now is attempting to
create legal and administrative roadblocks, said Barrett.